{"id":7180,"date":"2021-04-09T09:02:43","date_gmt":"2021-04-09T05:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=7180"},"modified":"2022-06-07T09:03:22","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T05:33:22","slug":"source-of-the-bab-and-bahaullahs-knowledge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/?p=7180&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"THE SOURCE OF THE B\u0100B AND BAH\u0100\u2019U\u2019LL\u0100H\u2019S KNOWLEDGE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Baha\u2019is believe that the Bab<\/a>, Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h<\/a>, and `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101<\/a> were divinely inspired and received knowledge directly from God. For instance this is how Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h claims he received divine knowledge:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever We desire to quote the sayings of the learned and of the wise, presently there will appear before the face of thy Lord in the form of a tablet all that which hath appeared in the world and is revealed in the Holy Books and Scriptures.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reference: Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h, Tablets of Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h Revealed After the Kit\u0101b-i-Aqdas, p. 149.<\/p>\n

The B\u0101b\u2019s Education<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

One day I was in the Kh\u0101l\u2019s (the B\u0101b\u2019s uncle) house when I saw that his highness (the B\u0101b) returned from school while he was holding some papers. I asked him, \u201cWhat are these?\u201d He replied with a weak whisper, \u201cThese are my homework (or calligraphy practices).\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reference: M\u012brz\u0101 Abu l-Fa\u1e0dl Gulp\u0101yg\u0101n\u012b and Mirza Mihd\u012b Gulp\u0101yg\u0101n\u012b, Kashf al-ghit\u0101\u2019 (Tashkent, 1919), pp. 56\u2013\u06f5\u06f7\u066b<\/p>\n

Esslemont too admits that the B\u0101b had received education at school:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn childhood He learned to read, and received the elementary education customary for children.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reference: J. E. Esslemont, Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h and the New Era, p. 13.<\/p>\n

He then continues in the footnote:<\/p>\n

On this point a historian remarks: \u201cThe belief of many people in the East, especially the believers in the B\u0101b (now Baha\u2019is) was this: that the B\u0101b received no education, but that the Mull\u0101s, in order to lower him in the eyes of the people, declared that such knowledge and wisdom as he possessed were accounted for by the education he had received. After deep search into the truth of this matter we have found evidence to show that in childhood for a short time he used to go to the house of Shaykh Mu\u1e25ammad (also known as Abid) where he was taught to read and write in Persian. It was this to which the B\u0101b referred when he wrote in the book of Bay\u0101n: \u2018O Mu\u1e25ammad, O my teacher! . . . \u2019\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nab\u012bl Zarand\u012b claims that the B\u0101b studied at school for five years:<\/p>\n

The B\u0101b was six or seven years of age when He entered the school of Shaykh Abid. The school was known by the name of \u201cQahviyih-Awliya.\u201d The B\u0101b remained five years at that school where He was taught the rudiments of Persian.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reference: Nab\u012bl Zarand\u012b, The Dawn-Breakers: Nab\u012bl\u2019s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bah\u0101\u2019\u012b Revelation, p. 75 (footnote).<\/p>\n

\n

Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h\u2019s Education<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

`Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 admits that his father received education at home. We will allow Adib Taherzadeh, a member of the Universal House of Justice from 1988\u2013\u06f2\u06f0\u06f0\u06f0, to tell us how Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h was educated:<\/p>\n

In Persia in the nineteenth century . . . There were two educated classes, divines and government officials, plus a small number of others . . . The second class included government officials, clerks and some merchants, who received a certain elementary education in their childhood. This consisted of reading, writing, calligraphy, the study of the Qur\u2019\u0101n and the works of some famous Persian poets. All this was usually accomplished within the span of a few years, after which many of them would marry, as was customary, in their late teens.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was to this class that Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h belonged. His father was a senior dignitary at the court of the Sh\u0101h and famous as a calligrapher\u2013an art which carried with it great prestige in royal circles. Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h as a child received a simple education for a brief period of time. Like His father, He excelled in calligraphy. Some specimens of His exquisite handwriting are kept in the International Bah\u0101\u2019\u012b Archives on Mount Carmel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reference: Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h, vol. 1, pp. 18\u2013\u06f1\u06f9\u066b<\/p>\n

Adib Taherzadeh gives us further information elsewhere:<\/p>\n

Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h received an elementary education during His childhood in Tihran [sic]. The nobility of those days usually employed the services of a teacher at home to tutor their children. The main subjects were calligraphy, the study of the Qur\u2019an and the works of the Persian poets. This type of schooling ended after only a few years when the child was in his early teens. Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h\u2019s education did not go further than this.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reference: Adib Taherzadeh, The child of the covenant: A Study Guide to the Will and Testament of \u2018Abdu\u2019l-Baha (Oxford: George Ronald, 2000), p. 19.<\/p>\n

According to these words, the reason Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h didn\u2019t go to school was because he was born in a noble family and it was customary in these families to not send their children to school. Rather they would employ a private teacher to teach their children. It is well known that the quality of teaching received from a private tutor usually far exceeds the education that one might attain in a public school.<\/p>\n

The final witness to how Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h was educated is someone who knew him from childhood and as `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 claims, apparently reared him. This person is no one but his sister, Kh\u0101num Buzurg (also known as Sh\u0101h Sultan Kh\u0101num and `Izziye Kh\u0101num). Although she became a follower of M\u012brz\u0101 Yahy\u0101, nonetheless, she was held with high esteem and was greatly respected by `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101. The bond between `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 and his aunt was so strong that `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 used these words to address her:<\/p>\n

Do you not remember that during my childhood and infancy what devotion I had to you, and now, for the sake of the Blessed Dust (Turbat Mub\u0101raki) and the Encircling Place of the Most High Ones (Ma\u1e6d\u0101f Mala\u2019 A`l\u0101), I still have the utmost love (for you).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reference: `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101, Mak\u0101t\u012bb (Egypt), vol. 2, p. 180.<\/p>\n

O intelligent aunt! I swear by the Encircling Place of the Most High Ones that in intelligence, cognition, reason, and understanding you have distinction and superiority over those who claim they are the pole\/axis of the Merciful (Lord\u2019s) world. The child that you had nurtured in your lap of love and affection had no similarity with his other brothers in any aspect and he wouldn\u2019t accept any position.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reference: `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101, Mak\u0101t\u012bb (Egypt), vol. 2, p. 183.<\/p>\n

These words show that Kh\u0101num Buzurg had very close ties to Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h and `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 until they split up over the Bab\u2019s successorship.<\/p>\n

The words also clearly show that Kh\u0101num Buzurg possessed a very high degree of intelligence. Furthermore, the child that `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 is referring to who she had nurtured, is most probably Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h himself because he is the one that \u201cwouldn\u2019t accept any positions.\u201d These statement show that the Aunt knew a fair amount about the internal affairs of Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h and how he had been schooled.<\/p>\n

There are at least five tablets from `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 that have been addressed to her in a bid to persuade her to become a follower of Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h. In the longest tablet, `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 refers to her as kind (mihrab\u0101n), pure (\u1e6dayyiba), honored (mukrama). It is in this tablet that he asks her to \u201cawaken those who are asleep.\u201d In a response to this request, she sends him a letter with the title \u1e6canb\u012bh al-na\u2019im\u012bn (Awakening the asleep) to refute his claims.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please find the references below:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101, Mak\u0101t\u012bb (Egypt), vol. 2, pp. 162\u2013\u06f1\u06f8\u06f6\u066b<\/li>\n
  2. `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101, Mak\u0101t\u012bb (Egypt), vol. 2, pp. 170\u2013\u06f1\u06f8\u06f6\u066b<\/li>\n
  3. `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101, Mak\u0101t\u012bb (Egypt), vol. 2, p. 172.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This document is the only non-Baha\u2019i source used in this book. The sections that we are citing from this document bear very close resemblance to what we mentioned from Baha\u2019i sources.<\/p>\n

    It is in this letter that she explains how Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h\u2014her brother\u2014was tutored:<\/p>\n

    The Mirz\u0101 (meaning Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h), who was your father, from the beginning of his life to when he came of age\u2014because the means were at hand and because of the gathering of the companions\u2014was engrossed in studying and endeavored in homework. He wouldn\u2019t disengage from learning the rudiments for a moment. After studying the rudiments of Arabic and literature he inclined towards the science of philosophy (\u1e25ikmat) and mysticism (`irf\u0101n) so that he might benefit from these. It was such that he would spend most of the day and night socializing with high statured philosophers and the gatherings of mystics and Sufis. When it was blown in Seraph\u2019s Trumpet of Appearance (meaning when the B\u0101b made his claims), he (meaning Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h) was a man who had seen most of the words and phrases of the mystics and philosophers and had heard and understood most of the signs of the appearance (of the Mahdi) . . . after returning from Badasht and after the Shaykh \u1e6cabars\u012b Fort war was over, he was engaged day and night in socializing with great Islamic scholars and followers of mysticism . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Reference: `Izziye Kh\u0101num (Kh\u0101num Buzurg), Tanb\u012bh al-n\u0101\u2019im\u012bn, pp. 4\u2013\u06f5\u066b<\/p>\n

    Both friend and foe, admit that Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h received education and was engaged in studying and socializing with the scholars in his youth.<\/p>\n

    \n

    \n

    \n

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    Baha\u2019is believe that the Bab, Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h, and `Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u0101 were divinely inspired and received knowledge directly from God. For instance this is how Bah\u0101\u2019u\u2019ll\u0101h claims he received divine knowledge: \u201cWhenever We desire to quote the sayings of the learned and of the wise, presently there will appear before the face of thy Lord in the form […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[823],"tags":[917,5967,5969,2876],"class_list":["post-7180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-articles","tag-bahaullah","tag-knowledge","tag-of-the-bab","tag-source"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7180"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7183,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7180\/revisions\/7183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bahaismiran.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}